Action Star Rachel Nichols on “Alex Cross,” Modeling, and Isabel Marant Jumpsuits
While you, myself, and frankly the entire planet, anxiously await the debut of his partnership with Netflix, House Of Cards, director David Fincher isn’t done with serialized television work. Not in the slightest.
According to Telerama (via The Playlist), Fincher has signed an output deal with HBO to work with the network on a few upcoming projects. No one is sure exactly what this deal will ultimately include, but he has been attached to the network prior, with an FBI series that was to see him team up with actress Charlize Theron.
Now, nothing has since come of that project, but it remains to be seen if this deal will involve us finally seeing what the hell he has in store for us with this project. Fincher is one of the absolute best filmmakers that the world of cinema has to offer, and he teaming with HBO is so damn thrilling. That network has been knocking it out of the park for a while now, and don’t appear to be letting up.
Source Telerama / The Playlist
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Magic City actress in Little Havana
Panamanian actress and former Miss Panama (1995) Patricia de Leon was seen on the streets of Little Havana brushing up on her Cuban accent. De Leon has just been added to the cast of Magic City in the recurring role of Pasterita Nunez, a “smart, strong Cuban woman that collaborated with Fidel Castro.” She was most recently seen on Univision’s Corazon Apasionado and just wrapped a role in the feature film Confessions of a Womanizer opposite C. Thomas Howell and Gary Busey. She is best known for her role on TNT’s Men of a Certain Age and Telemundo’s Perro Amor.
Her costar Christian Cooke was seen Friday supping at STK with two guests.
James Caan settled into Café Prima Pasta on Tuesday to work on Magic City, too. Caan, sitting with cast members, rehearsed lines while noshing on their signature made-to-order lasagna and bruschetta.
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I have been thinking a lot about the state of television lately. Most of the new shows of the season have premiered, and while there are a few stories of success, there certainly is no "break-out hit". Revolution's numbers are actually increasing week to week and Arrow on The CW, so far, is providing fairly strong ratings for the network. Otherwise, that is about it. Following a season that saw only a few new returning shows, it seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for a show to become a break-out hit, or really, even a success. The standard of what makes a show successful has also become relative. Revenge, which is considered a hit, is only getting a 2.7 rating and a 6 share this season. I will not go in to the metrics of ratings but rather will say that isn't great. Just a few years ago with those ratings, Revenge would possibly be on the brink of cancellation, but instead, at this moment, it is one of ABC's most successful dramas. However, on Sunday night, the previously little known network AMC, aired the highest rated scripted series of the season so far – The Walking Dead. So what does this mean for the future of networks and scripted television as a whole? Well, that is a tough question to which I'm not sure anybody quite has an answer yet, but I would like to take a look at some of the problems and eventual changes.
Looking back at when broadcast network television started in the 1940s, there was not much choice. Really, there were only the three or four (if you count DMN in the beginning) broadcast networks and if a person wanted to watch television on any given night they only had a couple shows to choose from. This isn't to say that every single show was successful (because, of course, some still didn't resonate with audiences) but the chances of succeeding and get good ratings was much higher. However, today when looking at broadcast network television, there are 5 major networks (including The CW), yet there are so many cable networks it is difficult to get an accurate count of how many are actually currently airing original series. Things were a little bit different when cable networks first came around. Many of them had very specific programming and targets, and many only aired some form of reality TV, or even music videos (oh, how I miss old MTV). Then, HBO began to create original TV programming and everything changed.
HBO was originally a network that aired only movies. However, in 1997 it launched Oz, its first scripted television program. Because the show aired on a Premium Channel in which money was made from subscriptions instead of advertising, the standards that were placed on most dramatic series did not apply. HBO was actually able to show life in prison without downplaying it for broad (and FCC regulated) audiences. HBO's programming trend continued with the development of The Sopranos which, when looking at it, is probably the show that really changed television. The Sopranos was a huge success for the networks and was incredibly financially lucrative. It also started a new trend in television called "quality programming.” I mentioned this in my Marathon to Start: 24, but because audiences responded so well to The Sopranos, writers, directors and networks realized that audiences appreciated shows with better writing and production value, and ones that had a more cinematic quality. This began to be reflected in drama programming across the board and through all network and cable networks. Shows like The Wire, 24, and The Shield, were created and thus, a new Golden Era of Television was born. While HBO became the network most well known for quality programming and dramas, the broadcast networks were still in the game at this point. For the most part due to a little show called Lost. While many broadcast networks were starting to worry that cable networks were stealing away all of their viewers with their quality programming, Lost began airing and put ABC back on the map, and assuaged some of that fear. It had an average weekly rating of over 16 million viewers for the first season and served to prove that viewers were still willing to invest in and watch a broadcast network show.
Ever since HBO began successfully airing quality series, more and more cable networks have been taking on this same format and creating original programming. FX, Showtime, and SyFy are all competitors, but the game-changer of a network that came out of nowhere was AMC. It originally was a network that aired classic movies (hence its name 'American Classic Movies'), but in 2007 they also changed their format and debuted Mad Men. The critically acclaimed television show has won four Emmys and increased its ratings every year. However, it was when AMC started airing Breaking Bad in 2008 that the network really solidified itself as one of the top cable programmers.
Currently, it is with AMC's show The Walking Dead that the climate has really become interesting, and I think we are truly seeing a complete shift in the state and business of television. While all of the cable shows I have mentioned have garnered critical acclaim, as well as pop culture success and cache, the one thing they have not had is broadcast network sized ratings. That isn't to say they haven't been extremely successful shows. It is simply that the standard for success of a cable network show is nowhere near the ratings needed to make a broadcast network show successful. (If Arrested Development had aired on HBO, its average of 6.2 million viewers would have been much higher than the highest rated episode of Game of Thrones, which clocked in around 4 million viewers. It's possible Arrested, would not have even had this high of ratings on the premium subscriber network, but it is very likely its cult audience would have made it last much longer than its three seasons on FOX.) This season of The Walking Dead, however, has changed all of that. The show based on the comic book about the zombie apocalypse right now has had the highest rated episode of scripted television to air on broadcast or cable…in a year. One whole year. This is partially because ratings on broadcast network television have dropped so drastically, but this means that there is a very good chance The Walking Dead could end up as the highest rated scripted series on all of television this season. That would be a groundbreaking moment for a cable show to win that honor, and one that I think truly indicates the solidified change of the current television model.
So the question is what does this all mean and where are we going? I am not one to be pessimistic and say that eventually broadcast networks will cease to exist, but I fear that we may be on our way there in some form. Now, this isn't to say that I believe people will stop watching television. I think actually the exact opposite. I have a feeling that people are and will continue to consume more entertainment in their homes than ever before. It just might not be in the same format. I think the move truly will be from focusing on watching a specific network to watching great content. It is already happening in the way that audiences are watching television these days. There is no longer a sense of brand loyalty. It doesn't matter if a show is on HBO, NBC, or AMC. What matters is the quality of the show. This is apparent in the success of The Walking Dead. Audiences aren't watching it because it is on a specific network; they are watching it because it is a damned good, well written, original, and extremely engaging show. While recording the podcast this week, @obscurefan asked me an interesting question that I wish I had expanded on a little more. He asked what network I think will come up with a show to replace Breaking Bad and Mad Men with those two going off the air. My answer was I don't know – but it was I don't know because I don't think it matters, because in a way, I don't think networks really matter anymore. I can't say who it will be because really, it will be whichever outlet comes up with the highest quality content that resonates with audiences. Now, this very well, could be a network show (though, seeing most of the fare, the only one that I think has that potential is The Following that begins airing on FOX in January), but we are no longer living in the days where it will have to be a network show.
More and more people are consuming content in differing ways. For the first time this season I have purchased several shows on iTunes after I missed them, and I watch most of the shows that I marathon via Netflix or Hulu. If I didn't pay attention, I might not even know what network a show has originally aired on or was created by. This creates a big problem for networks, which in the past have relied heavily on on-air advertising, brand recognition (best example being NBC'S Must See TV Thursday night line-ups), and shows having strong lead-ins when viewers are just too lazy to change a channel. None of these things exist with the time shifting experience of watching televisions, and I really think networks need to start planning for that and figuring out to adapt to these new models.
The biggest shift, and possibly the best tell of where the state of content will go, might be in February when David Fincher's new series House of Cards will premiere on Netflix. The series stars Kevin Spacey, and the big question is if those two names alone will be enough to draw in new subscribers and bring people to watch shows on the service. Not only does Netflix have this series, but the true test might be next summer when Arrested Development finally debuts on the streaming service. The demand for that show has grown exponentially since it went off the air, and the fact that original episodes will air on Netflix just might be enough to make it be taken seriously as a new original content delivery platform.
Here is the good news, because I don't want to be completely alarmist about the state of television, there is hope. If any anybody is listening and able to figure out how to truly capitalize on all of the new technology available, there is a very good chance that another and newer golden era of television could soon be triggered. I'm not sure that it will even be called television, but perhaps it will be a golden era of series content. Also, because of the success of series like The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones, audiences are sending a message that we want good, new and original shows. We will watch them. We will not accept recycled concepts and ideas, and will not stand for comedies that aren't funny, or dramas that aren't captivating. Give us good content (and shows about drugs, zombies, and ad men) and we will watch it. However, that is what we must do – keep watching shows. Watch House of Cards and see if it's good. Check out The Following and the next series that you see a commercial for that doesn't look too good and give it a shot. More than anything, just keep watching everything and don't give up on television. There is nothing like a good hour of a series that will let you escape for a while, and nothing that can fix your mood like great TV marathon. More than anything, we just have to keep watching, because although it is evolving before out eyes, we cannot let television die.
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Topless Photoshoot for the 2013 Riello Calendar - at the Beach in Madagascar | FashionTV HOT
We're behind the scenes of the photoshoot for the Riello Calendar 2013 taking place in Madagascar. Model Raffaella Modugno gives us an exclusive look at the shoot in Nosy Be. The hair and makeup are being done on the boat being taken to paradise. "I was chosen by Riello this year because they wanted to focus on a Mediterranean character. As you can see, I fully represent the Mediterranean character." Watch as she dips into the water with a wet t-shirt and various bikinis and bathing suits. Modugno once participated in Miss Italia in 2008. She also poses with a F 18: Luxury Acai Drink, which lights up in the dark.
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Fifty Shades of Grey Film: 10 Reasons It Will Be Huge
10. People Are Obsessed With Sex
Since time began, sex has sparked colossal interest. Whether it be in the medium of film, literature of music. Sexual content has always generated interest. It’s a natural instinct and something all of us are familiar with. Fifty Shades of Grey exhibits sex in a very explicit way, a way that makes most of us cringe and blush, and somehow it became the fastest-selling paperback book since Harry Potter. Fifty Shades taps into that sex instinct in all of us and arouses our imagination with intrigue.
The public will come and see the film in their ludicrous numbers regardless of the quality of the product, in much the same way Sex and the City became one of the most popular TV shows ever aired. Sex is a powerful selling tool, and when famous faces are put to Christian and Anastasia, both men and women are going to be queuing at midnight for a look at the steamy action.
6. The Americans Love It Too
Without the mass phenomena created in America, a film version of Fifty Shades would have been highly improbable. There just wouldn’t be the appeal and budget to make it work on a feasible level if America didn’t buy into the hype. It’s important to note that Christian and Anastasia are not given specific nationalities, so that can be played with to suit the intended audience. For the film, they will most likely be made American. There’s just simply a better chance of having a better box-office return if Fifty Shades is set in an American location such as New York and features prominent American stars.
Other recent book adaptations, such as The Hunger Games or Twilight have been incredibly successful in the American market, despite the fact the later stars a British actor. It just makes more sense to make the film appeal more to Americans because that’s where the money is, and Fifty Shades is as popular there as it is here.
5. E.L. James Has The Final Say
It is virtually unheard of for the writer of the novel which a film is being based upon to get creative control. Not even J.K. Rowling got a say in how the Harry Potter films turned out, but James appears to have gained this untold privilege by breaking the record for having the best-selling book in British history. This surely can only be a good thing. It should mean the film stays close to the feel and themes of the book, and guarantees those that were fans of the book a faithful cinematic telling of the story.
Fifty Shades is sensitive material, centred around a subject widely seen as taboo, and the fact that James is going to be heavily involved in production should see that it only turns out the way she wants it to. Adaptations of well-loved novels often fail because they trail too far away from the source material, but the fact that James is so protective over the novel should ensure a faithful, classy story is told, that can match the popularity of the books.
Christian Grey is ludicrously wealthy, beautiful to the point of wild jealousy and obsessively controlling. All with complete natural ease. He is every woman’s perfect fantasy. He’s the reason the books became the success they are. Men envy him. Boyfriends hate him. He’s doing more to women world-wide than most men could ever dream of doing. His extravagance, the excessiveness, the absurd way he is written is exactly what makes him so intriguing and enthralling.
In much the same way Bret Easton Ellis wrote Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, every natural instinct is telling you to despise this creation, but there is that indefinable something that makes him a brilliant character that is irresistible. He brings out sexual fantasies suppressed by women, the very mention of his name brings a giggle. Christian unleashes the sexual desire in women with his domineering yet seductive personality. Christian, with the right script and perfect actor, would be a greater cinematic character than a literary one, such is his power.
Posted by Spencer Cain, on October 19, 2012
The name Rachel Nichols may not ring a bell now, but it soon will. These days, actresses who make tabloid headlines tend to be relegated to specific genres: You have your romantic comedy stars, like Jennifer Aniston, and your drama stars like Anne Hathaway. But what about the action heroes? Sure, guys like Bruce Willis have dominated the field for years, but not nearly enough attention is paid to the women who also make these films so successful.
Enter Nichols, who got her start on an episode of little show called “Sex and the City,” in which she played the hostess Samantha banishes from a threesome with Richard (remember?). From there, Nichols went on to appear in action flicks such as “G.I. Joe,” “Conan the Barbarian,” and “Star Trek.” And now, she’s starring in this weekend’s big release, “Alex Cross,” opposite Tyler Perry and a buff Matthew Fox. We caught up with Nichols to get the scoop on action flicks, her modeling days, and one item of clothing she’ll never throw out.
StyleCaster: How did you get into modeling and then acting?
Rachel Nichols: When I was a student at Columbia University, my parents told me that if I wanted to continue my education and go to graduate school, I’d have to pay for that myself. That was the turning point. I was like, “Okay, I need to find a job where I can still go to class and make money.” I immediately started modeling for brands like Abercrombie and Fitch and eventually began doing commercials. All of this was for degrees I thought I would be getting, and then one day I had an audition for “Sex and the City.” That changed everything. Although I was only on one episode, after I did that, I began to think acting could be a career and not just a way to pay the bills. My parents were supportive. They said, “If you want to try it out, now is the time.”
Over the years, you’ve gone from a model to an actress who frequently walks red carpets. How has your style evolved?I think I learned a lesson the hard way that not all trends fit everybody. There are certain looks that don’t look right on me, and I think I’ve finally been able to master the ones that do. People say that confidence is the best accessory and it’s true. When I was growing up in Maine, and a freshman or sophomore at Columbia, I hadn’t really been exposed to a lot of fashion—and I’m not talking high fashion, I’m just talking pants that aren’t too short and shirts that aren’t too baggy. I think I arrived in New York without any fashion sense whatsoever. I’ve seen pictures from the first day that I walked into the modeling agency: They were taking Polaroids of me and I have no idea why they thought I could ever be a model. I know what looks work for me. I have long legs, and I can’t wear mini-dresses—they always look inappropriately short on me. I choose stylish comfort when dressing for an event.
Tell us about “Alex Cross.”
Everyone who worked on it loves it. Tyler Perry loves it—which is obviously really important, because you need your star to love their movie. When I got the script and saw director Rob Cohen was attached, I immediately knew it was going to be a major action movie. And that’s what it is—a great action movie, but it’s also very heartfelt. That sounds kind of crazy, but the relationships in the film are very important. At the end, you find yourself caring for the characters. For an actor, that’s the best possible outcome.
Modeling and acting are both notably tough businesses. What are some lessons you learned along the way?
One thing you learn really quickly when you’re modeling is that you’re going to face rejection all the time. It may be that your look isn’t right or that they’re looking for something else. Sometimes, you’re just blatantly not right for the job. You have to develop a thick skin and know that it’s not personal. Also, I really did learn that hard work always pays off. Of course, there’s a little bit of magic dust and luck involved, but as long as you spend time building up your resume, you’re paving the way for a successful career.
What is it about the action genre that you’re so drawn to? What other areas of film would you want to explore?
I love action! I love fight sequences, I love explosions, I love all of it. While you’re shooting it, you have no idea how badass you’re actually going to look on the screen. The audience can’t see the stunt doubles or secret wires, so to them it all just looks awesome. I’d love to do a romantic comedy though! That in my mind is a challenge. It scares me a little bit.
Are there any items in your closet you would never throw out?
It’s funny because this is something I’ve only worn twice in my life, but I have this beautiful Isabel Marant jumpsuit. It’s flowy with a floral pattern. I bought it in Paris during the “G.I. Joe” press tour, and it’s just something I will never throw out.
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Da Vinci's Demons -- Comic-Con Panel
David S. Goyer joins cast Tom Riley (Leonardo), Laura Haddock (Lucrezia) and Lara Pulver (Clarice) to unveil Da Vinci's Demons at the NY Comic-Con 2013 Panel. Da Vinci's Demons coming to STARZ Spring 2013.
* Interesting part starts from 13:50. Lara had the same DP who captured her nude on Sherlock episode shoot her in Da Vince Demons as well. "He makes me look good naked. Get him on this show!" jokes Lara. Laura Haddock was like a fish out of water and practically ignored by the audience during Q-and-A. Trust me by this time next year she will be on Mr.Skin hot list for nudity of the year.
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Dexter Season 7 – Yvonne Strahovski More Of A Mystery Woman
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By Debbie Emery - Radar Reporter
Mandy Moore is still two years away from 30, but a plastic surgeon claims the young star is already getting face-changing surgery that has affected her natural all-American girl looks.
When the 28-year-old stepped out at Rachel Zoe's launch party for Major Must Haves with Jockey on Wednesday, her distorted facial structure made her barely recognizable from the beautiful romantic lead in A Walk To Remember.
PHOTOS: Mandy Moore is Almost Unrecognizable From Younger Self
"It is very possible that she's had some work done. I suspect she may have undergone Botox injections to her forehead, causing her eyebrows to change shape and flatten," celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn, who has not treated the actress and singer, told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
"It also appears she may have undergone a chin implant, making her jaw look more square. Overall, these changes make Mandy look a lot more masculine."
PHOTOS: 10 Stars With Suspiciously Frozen Foreheads
The startling changes in her face aren't the only difference with the 5' 10" Chasing Liberty star, who has lost an awful lot of weight since she was a promoter for healthy curves earlier in her career.
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HBO Signs Deal With David Fincher
StyleCaster: How did you get into modeling and then acting?
Rachel Nichols: When I was a student at Columbia University, my parents told me that if I wanted to continue my education and go to graduate school, I’d have to pay for that myself. That was the turning point. I was like, “Okay, I need to find a job where I can still go to class and make money.” I immediately started modeling for brands like Abercrombie and Fitch and eventually began doing commercials. All of this was for degrees I thought I would be getting, and then one day I had an audition for “Sex and the City.” That changed everything. Although I was only on one episode, after I did that, I began to think acting could be a career and not just a way to pay the bills. My parents were supportive. They said, “If you want to try it out, now is the time.”
Over the years, you’ve gone from a model to an actress who frequently walks red carpets. How has your style evolved?I think I learned a lesson the hard way that not all trends fit everybody. There are certain looks that don’t look right on me, and I think I’ve finally been able to master the ones that do. People say that confidence is the best accessory and it’s true. When I was growing up in Maine, and a freshman or sophomore at Columbia, I hadn’t really been exposed to a lot of fashion—and I’m not talking high fashion, I’m just talking pants that aren’t too short and shirts that aren’t too baggy. I think I arrived in New York without any fashion sense whatsoever. I’ve seen pictures from the first day that I walked into the modeling agency: They were taking Polaroids of me and I have no idea why they thought I could ever be a model. I know what looks work for me. I have long legs, and I can’t wear mini-dresses—they always look inappropriately short on me. I choose stylish comfort when dressing for an event.
Tell us about “Alex Cross.”
Everyone who worked on it loves it. Tyler Perry loves it—which is obviously really important, because you need your star to love their movie. When I got the script and saw director Rob Cohen was attached, I immediately knew it was going to be a major action movie. And that’s what it is—a great action movie, but it’s also very heartfelt. That sounds kind of crazy, but the relationships in the film are very important. At the end, you find yourself caring for the characters. For an actor, that’s the best possible outcome.
Modeling and acting are both notably tough businesses. What are some lessons you learned along the way?
One thing you learn really quickly when you’re modeling is that you’re going to face rejection all the time. It may be that your look isn’t right or that they’re looking for something else. Sometimes, you’re just blatantly not right for the job. You have to develop a thick skin and know that it’s not personal. Also, I really did learn that hard work always pays off. Of course, there’s a little bit of magic dust and luck involved, but as long as you spend time building up your resume, you’re paving the way for a successful career.
What is it about the action genre that you’re so drawn to? What other areas of film would you want to explore?
I love action! I love fight sequences, I love explosions, I love all of it. While you’re shooting it, you have no idea how badass you’re actually going to look on the screen. The audience can’t see the stunt doubles or secret wires, so to them it all just looks awesome. I’d love to do a romantic comedy though! That in my mind is a challenge. It scares me a little bit.
Are there any items in your closet you would never throw out?
It’s funny because this is something I’ve only worn twice in my life, but I have this beautiful Isabel Marant jumpsuit. It’s flowy with a floral pattern. I bought it in Paris during the “G.I. Joe” press tour, and it’s just something I will never throw out.
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Da Vinci's Demons -- Comic-Con Panel
David S. Goyer joins cast Tom Riley (Leonardo), Laura Haddock (Lucrezia) and Lara Pulver (Clarice) to unveil Da Vinci's Demons at the NY Comic-Con 2013 Panel. Da Vinci's Demons coming to STARZ Spring 2013.
* Interesting part starts from 13:50. Lara had the same DP who captured her nude on Sherlock episode shoot her in Da Vince Demons as well. "He makes me look good naked. Get him on this show!" jokes Lara. Laura Haddock was like a fish out of water and practically ignored by the audience during Q-and-A. Trust me by this time next year she will be on Mr.Skin hot list for nudity of the year.
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Dexter Season 7 – Yvonne Strahovski More Of A Mystery Woman
On ‘Dexter’ season 7 Yvonne Strahovski plays Hannah McKay, a woman with a dark past, who when she was younger was apparently the companion of a serial killer. A major homicide investigation brings her to the attention of the Miami police department and crime-scene investigator Dexter.
Very little has been revealed about Strahovski’s character or the direction the show is headed. “It’s a different kind of action. There’s a lot of juicy secrets that she has in her past that will come to life quite quickly,” the actress reveals. “The audience will be satisfied very quickly where my character comes from and where she fits in the world of `Dexter.’ And they will be doing something on the show this season that’s never been done before.”
Offered the role of Hannah without auditioning, the actress says she was flattered when the producers called her up. Though she had watched some of the show over the years, she then watched all six seasons in three weeks to catch up. She adds that she quickly overcame feeling like the new kid on the block when she arrived on the set of “Dexter.”
“Everybody was so welcoming,” the actress says. “I’ve spent the majority of my time with Michael, who is extremely generous, very much an actor’s actor and so easy to work with. He’s amazing to watch and observe as well.”
Yvonne Strahovski hopes “Dexter” will offer her a chance to delve into characters that she hasn’t played before. And for now, Los Angeles is her home.
“I enjoy living in L.A.,” she says. “This is where the work is — or at least generated from because you fly off and do movies. It’s sort of a great way to see the world.”
* getting warmer and warmer.....Yvonne sweetheart...my foreign fuck fantasy...you know what you got to do if you want to stay for good in US. Be flexible in your choices, babe. Dexter should be the stepping stone to take on challenging roles and taking off your top for your dear Chuckie fans.
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Too Much, Too Soon! Mandy Moore Already Getting Botox And Plastic Surgery At 28, Claims Expert
By Debbie Emery - Radar ReporterMandy Moore is still two years away from 30, but a plastic surgeon claims the young star is already getting face-changing surgery that has affected her natural all-American girl looks.
When the 28-year-old stepped out at Rachel Zoe's launch party for Major Must Haves with Jockey on Wednesday, her distorted facial structure made her barely recognizable from the beautiful romantic lead in A Walk To Remember.
PHOTOS: Mandy Moore is Almost Unrecognizable From Younger Self
"It is very possible that she's had some work done. I suspect she may have undergone Botox injections to her forehead, causing her eyebrows to change shape and flatten," celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn, who has not treated the actress and singer, told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
"It also appears she may have undergone a chin implant, making her jaw look more square. Overall, these changes make Mandy look a lot more masculine."
PHOTOS: 10 Stars With Suspiciously Frozen Foreheads
The startling changes in her face aren't the only difference with the 5' 10" Chasing Liberty star, who has lost an awful lot of weight since she was a promoter for healthy curves earlier in her career.
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HBO Signs Deal With David Fincher
While you, myself, and frankly the entire planet, anxiously await the debut of his partnership with Netflix, House Of Cards, director David Fincher isn’t done with serialized television work. Not in the slightest.
According to Telerama (via The Playlist), Fincher has signed an output deal with HBO to work with the network on a few upcoming projects. No one is sure exactly what this deal will ultimately include, but he has been attached to the network prior, with an FBI series that was to see him team up with actress Charlize Theron.
Now, nothing has since come of that project, but it remains to be seen if this deal will involve us finally seeing what the hell he has in store for us with this project. Fincher is one of the absolute best filmmakers that the world of cinema has to offer, and he teaming with HBO is so damn thrilling. That network has been knocking it out of the park for a while now, and don’t appear to be letting up.
Source Telerama / The Playlist
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Magic City actress in Little Havana
by Lesley Abravanel
 |
| Patricia De Leon |
Her costar Christian Cooke was seen Friday supping at STK with two guests.
James Caan settled into Café Prima Pasta on Tuesday to work on Magic City, too. Caan, sitting with cast members, rehearsed lines while noshing on their signature made-to-order lasagna and bruschetta.
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The State of Television
What is happening to broadcast and cable networks in the ever-changing climate of television watching?
I have been thinking a lot about the state of television lately. Most of the new shows of the season have premiered, and while there are a few stories of success, there certainly is no "break-out hit". Revolution's numbers are actually increasing week to week and Arrow on The CW, so far, is providing fairly strong ratings for the network. Otherwise, that is about it. Following a season that saw only a few new returning shows, it seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for a show to become a break-out hit, or really, even a success. The standard of what makes a show successful has also become relative. Revenge, which is considered a hit, is only getting a 2.7 rating and a 6 share this season. I will not go in to the metrics of ratings but rather will say that isn't great. Just a few years ago with those ratings, Revenge would possibly be on the brink of cancellation, but instead, at this moment, it is one of ABC's most successful dramas. However, on Sunday night, the previously little known network AMC, aired the highest rated scripted series of the season so far – The Walking Dead. So what does this mean for the future of networks and scripted television as a whole? Well, that is a tough question to which I'm not sure anybody quite has an answer yet, but I would like to take a look at some of the problems and eventual changes.Looking back at when broadcast network television started in the 1940s, there was not much choice. Really, there were only the three or four (if you count DMN in the beginning) broadcast networks and if a person wanted to watch television on any given night they only had a couple shows to choose from. This isn't to say that every single show was successful (because, of course, some still didn't resonate with audiences) but the chances of succeeding and get good ratings was much higher. However, today when looking at broadcast network television, there are 5 major networks (including The CW), yet there are so many cable networks it is difficult to get an accurate count of how many are actually currently airing original series. Things were a little bit different when cable networks first came around. Many of them had very specific programming and targets, and many only aired some form of reality TV, or even music videos (oh, how I miss old MTV). Then, HBO began to create original TV programming and everything changed.
HBO was originally a network that aired only movies. However, in 1997 it launched Oz, its first scripted television program. Because the show aired on a Premium Channel in which money was made from subscriptions instead of advertising, the standards that were placed on most dramatic series did not apply. HBO was actually able to show life in prison without downplaying it for broad (and FCC regulated) audiences. HBO's programming trend continued with the development of The Sopranos which, when looking at it, is probably the show that really changed television. The Sopranos was a huge success for the networks and was incredibly financially lucrative. It also started a new trend in television called "quality programming.” I mentioned this in my Marathon to Start: 24, but because audiences responded so well to The Sopranos, writers, directors and networks realized that audiences appreciated shows with better writing and production value, and ones that had a more cinematic quality. This began to be reflected in drama programming across the board and through all network and cable networks. Shows like The Wire, 24, and The Shield, were created and thus, a new Golden Era of Television was born. While HBO became the network most well known for quality programming and dramas, the broadcast networks were still in the game at this point. For the most part due to a little show called Lost. While many broadcast networks were starting to worry that cable networks were stealing away all of their viewers with their quality programming, Lost began airing and put ABC back on the map, and assuaged some of that fear. It had an average weekly rating of over 16 million viewers for the first season and served to prove that viewers were still willing to invest in and watch a broadcast network show.
Ever since HBO began successfully airing quality series, more and more cable networks have been taking on this same format and creating original programming. FX, Showtime, and SyFy are all competitors, but the game-changer of a network that came out of nowhere was AMC. It originally was a network that aired classic movies (hence its name 'American Classic Movies'), but in 2007 they also changed their format and debuted Mad Men. The critically acclaimed television show has won four Emmys and increased its ratings every year. However, it was when AMC started airing Breaking Bad in 2008 that the network really solidified itself as one of the top cable programmers.
Currently, it is with AMC's show The Walking Dead that the climate has really become interesting, and I think we are truly seeing a complete shift in the state and business of television. While all of the cable shows I have mentioned have garnered critical acclaim, as well as pop culture success and cache, the one thing they have not had is broadcast network sized ratings. That isn't to say they haven't been extremely successful shows. It is simply that the standard for success of a cable network show is nowhere near the ratings needed to make a broadcast network show successful. (If Arrested Development had aired on HBO, its average of 6.2 million viewers would have been much higher than the highest rated episode of Game of Thrones, which clocked in around 4 million viewers. It's possible Arrested, would not have even had this high of ratings on the premium subscriber network, but it is very likely its cult audience would have made it last much longer than its three seasons on FOX.) This season of The Walking Dead, however, has changed all of that. The show based on the comic book about the zombie apocalypse right now has had the highest rated episode of scripted television to air on broadcast or cable…in a year. One whole year. This is partially because ratings on broadcast network television have dropped so drastically, but this means that there is a very good chance The Walking Dead could end up as the highest rated scripted series on all of television this season. That would be a groundbreaking moment for a cable show to win that honor, and one that I think truly indicates the solidified change of the current television model.So the question is what does this all mean and where are we going? I am not one to be pessimistic and say that eventually broadcast networks will cease to exist, but I fear that we may be on our way there in some form. Now, this isn't to say that I believe people will stop watching television. I think actually the exact opposite. I have a feeling that people are and will continue to consume more entertainment in their homes than ever before. It just might not be in the same format. I think the move truly will be from focusing on watching a specific network to watching great content. It is already happening in the way that audiences are watching television these days. There is no longer a sense of brand loyalty. It doesn't matter if a show is on HBO, NBC, or AMC. What matters is the quality of the show. This is apparent in the success of The Walking Dead. Audiences aren't watching it because it is on a specific network; they are watching it because it is a damned good, well written, original, and extremely engaging show. While recording the podcast this week, @obscurefan asked me an interesting question that I wish I had expanded on a little more. He asked what network I think will come up with a show to replace Breaking Bad and Mad Men with those two going off the air. My answer was I don't know – but it was I don't know because I don't think it matters, because in a way, I don't think networks really matter anymore. I can't say who it will be because really, it will be whichever outlet comes up with the highest quality content that resonates with audiences. Now, this very well, could be a network show (though, seeing most of the fare, the only one that I think has that potential is The Following that begins airing on FOX in January), but we are no longer living in the days where it will have to be a network show.
More and more people are consuming content in differing ways. For the first time this season I have purchased several shows on iTunes after I missed them, and I watch most of the shows that I marathon via Netflix or Hulu. If I didn't pay attention, I might not even know what network a show has originally aired on or was created by. This creates a big problem for networks, which in the past have relied heavily on on-air advertising, brand recognition (best example being NBC'S Must See TV Thursday night line-ups), and shows having strong lead-ins when viewers are just too lazy to change a channel. None of these things exist with the time shifting experience of watching televisions, and I really think networks need to start planning for that and figuring out to adapt to these new models.
The biggest shift, and possibly the best tell of where the state of content will go, might be in February when David Fincher's new series House of Cards will premiere on Netflix. The series stars Kevin Spacey, and the big question is if those two names alone will be enough to draw in new subscribers and bring people to watch shows on the service. Not only does Netflix have this series, but the true test might be next summer when Arrested Development finally debuts on the streaming service. The demand for that show has grown exponentially since it went off the air, and the fact that original episodes will air on Netflix just might be enough to make it be taken seriously as a new original content delivery platform.
Here is the good news, because I don't want to be completely alarmist about the state of television, there is hope. If any anybody is listening and able to figure out how to truly capitalize on all of the new technology available, there is a very good chance that another and newer golden era of television could soon be triggered. I'm not sure that it will even be called television, but perhaps it will be a golden era of series content. Also, because of the success of series like The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones, audiences are sending a message that we want good, new and original shows. We will watch them. We will not accept recycled concepts and ideas, and will not stand for comedies that aren't funny, or dramas that aren't captivating. Give us good content (and shows about drugs, zombies, and ad men) and we will watch it. However, that is what we must do – keep watching shows. Watch House of Cards and see if it's good. Check out The Following and the next series that you see a commercial for that doesn't look too good and give it a shot. More than anything, just keep watching everything and don't give up on television. There is nothing like a good hour of a series that will let you escape for a while, and nothing that can fix your mood like great TV marathon. More than anything, we just have to keep watching, because although it is evolving before out eyes, we cannot let television die.
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Topless Photoshoot for the 2013 Riello Calendar - at the Beach in Madagascar | FashionTV HOT
We're behind the scenes of the photoshoot for the Riello Calendar 2013 taking place in Madagascar. Model Raffaella Modugno gives us an exclusive look at the shoot in Nosy Be. The hair and makeup are being done on the boat being taken to paradise. "I was chosen by Riello this year because they wanted to focus on a Mediterranean character. As you can see, I fully represent the Mediterranean character." Watch as she dips into the water with a wet t-shirt and various bikinis and bathing suits. Modugno once participated in Miss Italia in 2008. She also poses with a F 18: Luxury Acai Drink, which lights up in the dark.
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Fifty Shades of Grey Film: 10 Reasons It Will Be Huge
Despite it being originally published in June 2011, up until about six months ago, nobody had heard of Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, in October of 2012, everybody that hasn’t been living in a cave or a monastery has become aware of the latest literary phenomenon that is Fifty Shades of Grey. And as much as married middle-aged men would like to deny it, they’ve been peeking into their wife’s latest obsession too.
Fifty Shades grew into a shocking spectacle, becoming the fastest-selling paperback in British history. A feat normally reserved for boy wizards and curiously pale vampires. Success spread almost entirely because of word of mouth. There were no multi-million pound marketing schemes with billboards erected everywhere and the author on the TV 24/7. There was Facebook, Twitter and girly gossip. Marketing for the 21st Century. An age dominated by media interaction.
With the book becoming an astronomical success, it was a matter of counting down the days until a major Hollywood studio bought the rights to turn the book into a motion picture. That studio was Universal, and they are keen to get the movie out as soon as possible, while the book is still firmly in the popular consciousness. If the gossip and speculation is anything to go by, then anticipation for the film is roaring. It is a very rare occurrence for there to be this amount of hype surrounding a literary adaptation that isn’t aimed at children, but Fifty Shades of Grey is no normal book.
Fifty Shades grew into a shocking spectacle, becoming the fastest-selling paperback in British history. A feat normally reserved for boy wizards and curiously pale vampires. Success spread almost entirely because of word of mouth. There were no multi-million pound marketing schemes with billboards erected everywhere and the author on the TV 24/7. There was Facebook, Twitter and girly gossip. Marketing for the 21st Century. An age dominated by media interaction.
With the book becoming an astronomical success, it was a matter of counting down the days until a major Hollywood studio bought the rights to turn the book into a motion picture. That studio was Universal, and they are keen to get the movie out as soon as possible, while the book is still firmly in the popular consciousness. If the gossip and speculation is anything to go by, then anticipation for the film is roaring. It is a very rare occurrence for there to be this amount of hype surrounding a literary adaptation that isn’t aimed at children, but Fifty Shades of Grey is no normal book.
10. People Are Obsessed With Sex
Since time began, sex has sparked colossal interest. Whether it be in the medium of film, literature of music. Sexual content has always generated interest. It’s a natural instinct and something all of us are familiar with. Fifty Shades of Grey exhibits sex in a very explicit way, a way that makes most of us cringe and blush, and somehow it became the fastest-selling paperback book since Harry Potter. Fifty Shades taps into that sex instinct in all of us and arouses our imagination with intrigue.
The public will come and see the film in their ludicrous numbers regardless of the quality of the product, in much the same way Sex and the City became one of the most popular TV shows ever aired. Sex is a powerful selling tool, and when famous faces are put to Christian and Anastasia, both men and women are going to be queuing at midnight for a look at the steamy action.
9. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti
Author, E.L. JAMES to produce the adaptation of her best-selling novel, handpicked Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti. De Luca and Brunetti may not have the star power of Brian Grazer, Joel Silver or Jerry Bruckheimer, but they are going to be a important figures if Fifty Shades is to become a hit movie. De Luca and Brunetti first worked together as co-producers on David Fincher’s Oscar-winning The Social Network, so if Fifty Shades has even an ounce of the artistic merit that does, then awards are a certain possibility.
De Luca is most notably the former President of Productions for New Line Cinema, and during that tenure he oversaw the release of the brilliant Se7en, Rush Hour and two of Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterful works – Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Fifty Shades appears to be in perfectly capable hands then.
Author, E.L. JAMES to produce the adaptation of her best-selling novel, handpicked Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti. De Luca and Brunetti may not have the star power of Brian Grazer, Joel Silver or Jerry Bruckheimer, but they are going to be a important figures if Fifty Shades is to become a hit movie. De Luca and Brunetti first worked together as co-producers on David Fincher’s Oscar-winning The Social Network, so if Fifty Shades has even an ounce of the artistic merit that does, then awards are a certain possibility.
De Luca is most notably the former President of Productions for New Line Cinema, and during that tenure he oversaw the release of the brilliant Se7en, Rush Hour and two of Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterful works – Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Fifty Shades appears to be in perfectly capable hands then.
8. No Bret Easton Ellis
Firstly, I am a great fan of Bret Easton Ellis’ literary works. American Psycho is one of the most definite and important modern novels, Less Than Zero is an extraordinary achievement in literature and Glamorama is audaciously brilliant. Despite saying that, a Fifty Shades of Grey film written by Ellis would end in disaster. I don’t doubt the fact Ellis would bring something unique and adventurous to the project, but his style and mind would create something far away from the novel many millions love.
Ellis has been very vocal about his passion for the project, most obviously on his Twitter account, even tweeting pictures of potential Christian’s and Anastasia’s for his hundreds of thousands of followers. But it was not to be, and James decided a man who is famous for the explicit excessiveness was not the right man to adapt her baby. And Ellis’ only previous foray into screenwriting – an adaptation of his own collection of short stories – The Informers – was a commercial and critical disaster.
Firstly, I am a great fan of Bret Easton Ellis’ literary works. American Psycho is one of the most definite and important modern novels, Less Than Zero is an extraordinary achievement in literature and Glamorama is audaciously brilliant. Despite saying that, a Fifty Shades of Grey film written by Ellis would end in disaster. I don’t doubt the fact Ellis would bring something unique and adventurous to the project, but his style and mind would create something far away from the novel many millions love.
Ellis has been very vocal about his passion for the project, most obviously on his Twitter account, even tweeting pictures of potential Christian’s and Anastasia’s for his hundreds of thousands of followers. But it was not to be, and James decided a man who is famous for the explicit excessiveness was not the right man to adapt her baby. And Ellis’ only previous foray into screenwriting – an adaptation of his own collection of short stories – The Informers – was a commercial and critical disaster.
7. Kelly Marcel
Following on from the last point, Kelly Marcel has been the lucky one selected to turn Fifty Shades into a screenplay. Marcel is not a recognisable screenwriter such as Aaron Sorkin or Stephen Zaillian, but I think crucially, she is a woman. A female writer will maintain the same tone as the novel, and crucially see the explicitly sexual scenes from the view of a woman, and not like someone like the aforementioned Ellis.
Marcel is best known as the creator of the ambitious, Steven Spielberg produced show, Terra Nova. Terra Nova only lasted a single season on Fox, more due to budget concerns than viewers or the overall quality of the show, and Marcel has shown much promise as a screenwriter, and there appears to be a lot of confidence in her to deliver a quality Fifty Shades script.
Following on from the last point, Kelly Marcel has been the lucky one selected to turn Fifty Shades into a screenplay. Marcel is not a recognisable screenwriter such as Aaron Sorkin or Stephen Zaillian, but I think crucially, she is a woman. A female writer will maintain the same tone as the novel, and crucially see the explicitly sexual scenes from the view of a woman, and not like someone like the aforementioned Ellis.
Marcel is best known as the creator of the ambitious, Steven Spielberg produced show, Terra Nova. Terra Nova only lasted a single season on Fox, more due to budget concerns than viewers or the overall quality of the show, and Marcel has shown much promise as a screenwriter, and there appears to be a lot of confidence in her to deliver a quality Fifty Shades script.
Without the mass phenomena created in America, a film version of Fifty Shades would have been highly improbable. There just wouldn’t be the appeal and budget to make it work on a feasible level if America didn’t buy into the hype. It’s important to note that Christian and Anastasia are not given specific nationalities, so that can be played with to suit the intended audience. For the film, they will most likely be made American. There’s just simply a better chance of having a better box-office return if Fifty Shades is set in an American location such as New York and features prominent American stars.
Other recent book adaptations, such as The Hunger Games or Twilight have been incredibly successful in the American market, despite the fact the later stars a British actor. It just makes more sense to make the film appeal more to Americans because that’s where the money is, and Fifty Shades is as popular there as it is here.
5. E.L. James Has The Final Say
It is virtually unheard of for the writer of the novel which a film is being based upon to get creative control. Not even J.K. Rowling got a say in how the Harry Potter films turned out, but James appears to have gained this untold privilege by breaking the record for having the best-selling book in British history. This surely can only be a good thing. It should mean the film stays close to the feel and themes of the book, and guarantees those that were fans of the book a faithful cinematic telling of the story.
Fifty Shades is sensitive material, centred around a subject widely seen as taboo, and the fact that James is going to be heavily involved in production should see that it only turns out the way she wants it to. Adaptations of well-loved novels often fail because they trail too far away from the source material, but the fact that James is so protective over the novel should ensure a faithful, classy story is told, that can match the popularity of the books.
4. Ryan Gosling as Christian?
After a star-making 2011, Ryan Gosling’s finely chiseled face has been engraved in the hearts and minds of women everywhere. After slick cult hit, Drive, he became a hit with the men too. He’s the flavour of the month, and as Crazy Stupid Love and Drive prove, he can carry a film to a successful box-office taking. It would certainly be a very different and unfamiliar role for Gosling, but his variety has been proven to those who have seen Half Nelson and Blue Valentine.
Fifty Shades would be something else entirely however, and it would take strong shoulders to not be overwhelmed by the subject-material and bombastic hype surrounding the Fifty Shades phenomenon. Gosling is one of the finest young actors in Hollywood, and is already a hit with the ladies. His schedule could prevent him from appearing as Christian, as he is set to appear in Terrence Malick’s next project and re-team with Nicolas Windig Refn for Only God Forgives.
If the Fifty Shades movie is going to be a hit, it needs a central performance from someone with the seductive power of Gosling. Here’s hoping the producers woo him into appearing.
After a star-making 2011, Ryan Gosling’s finely chiseled face has been engraved in the hearts and minds of women everywhere. After slick cult hit, Drive, he became a hit with the men too. He’s the flavour of the month, and as Crazy Stupid Love and Drive prove, he can carry a film to a successful box-office taking. It would certainly be a very different and unfamiliar role for Gosling, but his variety has been proven to those who have seen Half Nelson and Blue Valentine.
Fifty Shades would be something else entirely however, and it would take strong shoulders to not be overwhelmed by the subject-material and bombastic hype surrounding the Fifty Shades phenomenon. Gosling is one of the finest young actors in Hollywood, and is already a hit with the ladies. His schedule could prevent him from appearing as Christian, as he is set to appear in Terrence Malick’s next project and re-team with Nicolas Windig Refn for Only God Forgives.
If the Fifty Shades movie is going to be a hit, it needs a central performance from someone with the seductive power of Gosling. Here’s hoping the producers woo him into appearing.
3. Christian Grey is a Great Character
Christian Grey is ludicrously wealthy, beautiful to the point of wild jealousy and obsessively controlling. All with complete natural ease. He is every woman’s perfect fantasy. He’s the reason the books became the success they are. Men envy him. Boyfriends hate him. He’s doing more to women world-wide than most men could ever dream of doing. His extravagance, the excessiveness, the absurd way he is written is exactly what makes him so intriguing and enthralling.
In much the same way Bret Easton Ellis wrote Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, every natural instinct is telling you to despise this creation, but there is that indefinable something that makes him a brilliant character that is irresistible. He brings out sexual fantasies suppressed by women, the very mention of his name brings a giggle. Christian unleashes the sexual desire in women with his domineering yet seductive personality. Christian, with the right script and perfect actor, would be a greater cinematic character than a literary one, such is his power.
2. Franchise Potential
Studios love a lucrative movie franchise. The public love an engrossing movie franchise. Everybody loves a movie franchise. It gives the studio the chance to maximise profit, and the paying public can lose themselves in a world for a substantial amount of time. Look at Harry Potter, the first film was released in 2001, and the final one in 2011. The same fans stood side by side with their literary hero for 10 years, long after they had matured past the aimed target audience. You get that level of commitment from fans when forming a franchise, specifically if it is based on much loved literary characters.
There are three Fifty Shades books, so we’re looking at a minimum of three films, though it all depends on the popularity of the first film obviously. There is of course the possibility of more books in the series, and James would be idiotic to not cash-in on her popularity, or at least write some sort of spin-off series. The possibilities for Fifty Shades are endless, and that’s what makes it so exciting. There’s millions of different ways they could run with this, and that’s what makes the anticipation so burning.
Studios love a lucrative movie franchise. The public love an engrossing movie franchise. Everybody loves a movie franchise. It gives the studio the chance to maximise profit, and the paying public can lose themselves in a world for a substantial amount of time. Look at Harry Potter, the first film was released in 2001, and the final one in 2011. The same fans stood side by side with their literary hero for 10 years, long after they had matured past the aimed target audience. You get that level of commitment from fans when forming a franchise, specifically if it is based on much loved literary characters.
There are three Fifty Shades books, so we’re looking at a minimum of three films, though it all depends on the popularity of the first film obviously. There is of course the possibility of more books in the series, and James would be idiotic to not cash-in on her popularity, or at least write some sort of spin-off series. The possibilities for Fifty Shades are endless, and that’s what makes it so exciting. There’s millions of different ways they could run with this, and that’s what makes the anticipation so burning.
1. It’s A Genuine Phenomenon
Quite frankly, it would be harder to make Fifty Shades of Grey a commercial flop than failure. For it to be the raging success it has been, it has to have something that connects with people. It may not be something holy, or something all of us like, but E.L. James has sparked a connection with the mass public and Fifty Shades has become the biggest literary phenomenon since Harry Potter as a result. The film could be as bad as Sex and the City 2, but it’d be irrelevant as the film will probably end up grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, and everybody from the studio to James will go home happy with a slightly larger bank balance. Fifty Shades has become a genuine obsession in some quarters – especially with young women, it is so incredibly rare for a novel to strike a chord this strong with this many adults. It’s remarkable and amazes me to see so many people reading this book, and its popularity has spread entirely by word of mouth, which could bode well for the film as it will no doubt have a high age rating. When the film comes to be released, that wave of phenomena is going to rush over the world again, and as I think the novel’s material would work better in the cinematic field, I can’t wait.
Quite frankly, it would be harder to make Fifty Shades of Grey a commercial flop than failure. For it to be the raging success it has been, it has to have something that connects with people. It may not be something holy, or something all of us like, but E.L. James has sparked a connection with the mass public and Fifty Shades has become the biggest literary phenomenon since Harry Potter as a result. The film could be as bad as Sex and the City 2, but it’d be irrelevant as the film will probably end up grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, and everybody from the studio to James will go home happy with a slightly larger bank balance. Fifty Shades has become a genuine obsession in some quarters – especially with young women, it is so incredibly rare for a novel to strike a chord this strong with this many adults. It’s remarkable and amazes me to see so many people reading this book, and its popularity has spread entirely by word of mouth, which could bode well for the film as it will no doubt have a high age rating. When the film comes to be released, that wave of phenomena is going to rush over the world again, and as I think the novel’s material would work better in the cinematic field, I can’t wait.
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Meet Viva's 'next Cristine Reyes'
ABS-CBNnews.com
Meet Viva's 'next Cristine Reyes'
ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA, Philippines – At one point dubbed by her talent agency as its "Anjanette Abayari look-alike," Viva's up-and-coming sexy star is gearing up to be the local entertainment outfit's "next Cristine Reyes."
First discovered for her appearance in a music video, Yam Concepcion is being groomed by the talent management arm of Viva Entertainment to headline its upcoming sexy films.
But according to "Viva's newest sweetheart," as she is dubbed by men's magazine FHM, shedding her clothes for the big screen isn't all that's planned for her showbiz career.
Her career peg? That of Kapamilya actress Cristine Reyes.
"[Viva management] told me that they wanted me to be sexy in the mold of Cristine Reyes, doing tele-series, being the leading woman, things like that," Conception told FHM in its October 2012 issue, where she appears as its cover girl.
Also a talent of Viva, Reyes, after her stint in a reality talent search, has gone on to become a dramatic actress both in TV and films. The younger sister of actress Ara Mina, the Kapamilya star is also regarded as among the country's "sexiest," as suggested by her staple appearance in FHM's yearly poll.
Despite being tagged as a "sex symbol," Reyes would outgrow her claim to fame with dramatic performances in TV series such as "Dahil sa Pag-Ibig," and in films like "No Other Woman."
For her part, Concepcion aims for the same kind of growth, which meant taking the "risk" of making her debut via FHM and an upcoming sexy film.
"I'm just trying to be strong and versatile. I'm risking it all, that's how life is -- you have to risk it and go out of your comfort zone, try different things and learn from it," she said.
For her film debut, Concepcion said she will star in the "scandalous" adult-drama film "Rigodon," directed by Erik Matti.
"It has three characters and shows three different points of view on how they regard love, life, lust, marriage and such," she said of the film. "I gave it my all. Let's leave it at that. [It's] very scandalous."
Although she is being launched as an adult film star, Concepcion said she doesn't consider herself a "sex symbol" just yet. She added, however, that she has at least come to terms with having a Cristine Reyes-inspired showbiz career as her occupation for the foreseeable future.
"I wouldn't consider myself a sexy symbol. It actually took a year [of talks]. I had to psyche myself for it; I didn't want to do something I wasn't a hundred percent sure [I wanted to do]," Concepcion said.
Copyright Alert System Coming Within Weeks
October 19, 2012 | By Glenn Peoples (@billboardglenn), Nashville
American Internet users can expect to start seeing notifications from their Internet service providers if they trade files on peer-to-peer networks.
A blog post by Jill Lesser, executive director of the Center for Copyright Information, revealed the long-awaited Copyright Alert System (CAS) will begin "in the coming weeks" and provided some details about the partnership with ISPs to deter subscribers from infringement over peer-to-peer networks.
ISPs to Roll Out Copyright Alert Systems This Year, CCI's New Executive Director Says
In the coming weeks, participating ISPs will launch its version of the CAS. Each system allows content owners to send infringement notices to subscribers via the ISP. When infringing activity continues, CAS will send "enhanced alerts" that vary by ISP but range from a requirement that a subscriber review educational material to temporary throttling of the subscriber's Internet speed.
The CCI member companies include the RIAA, the MPAA and five major Internet service providers: Verizon, AT-and-T, Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable.
Consumers and critics may find some comfort in the steps the CCI has taken to ensure fairness. For starters, unlike anti-piracy efforts in other countries, CAS is not a "strikeout" program that will result in termination of an account. In addition, CCI has retained Stroz Friedberg to ensure MarkMonitor's system for identifying alleged infringement is accurate and works properly.
The CAS is the result of a 2011 memorandum of understanding between a group of U.S. Internet service providers, the MPAA and the RIAA that outlined the system for alerting subscribers of their infringing behavior and educating them on alternatives. Lesser was hired as executive director in April. She was previously Deputy Director of Public Policy and Director of the Civic Media Project at the advocacy group People for the American Way.
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M A S Q U E R O T I C A
This Saturday Night in San Francisco • SF Concourse Exhibition Center
635 8th St., San Francisco
Oct 20th, 2012
8pm - 4am
(21+ Show - ID required)
Asian Diva Girls is returning to participate in the 2nd annual Masquerotica costume party this Saturday night in San Francisco.
We will have live DJs and several pole dancers and go-go girls on our very own Asian Diva Girls stage.
Details for the event are located here:
http://www.Masquerotica.com
I may even have a few Guest passes left in case any local GFYers feel like attending.
E-mail me offline if you are interested: webmaster AT asiandivagirls DOT com
Here are a few of the girls who will be attending Masquerotica with Asian Diva Girls, as well as some videos from last year, etc:
Masquerotica 10.20.12 Trailer
Kara Nova at Masquerotica with Eric McFadden
Pole acrobat Kara Nova, backed by Eric McFadden and band at Masquerotica in San Francisco
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| Yam Concepcion on the October 2012 issue of FHM. Photo courtesy of FHM.com.ph | |
But according to "Viva's newest sweetheart," as she is dubbed by men's magazine FHM, shedding her clothes for the big screen isn't all that's planned for her showbiz career.
Her career peg? That of Kapamilya actress Cristine Reyes.
"[Viva management] told me that they wanted me to be sexy in the mold of Cristine Reyes, doing tele-series, being the leading woman, things like that," Conception told FHM in its October 2012 issue, where she appears as its cover girl.
Also a talent of Viva, Reyes, after her stint in a reality talent search, has gone on to become a dramatic actress both in TV and films. The younger sister of actress Ara Mina, the Kapamilya star is also regarded as among the country's "sexiest," as suggested by her staple appearance in FHM's yearly poll.
Despite being tagged as a "sex symbol," Reyes would outgrow her claim to fame with dramatic performances in TV series such as "Dahil sa Pag-Ibig," and in films like "No Other Woman."
For her part, Concepcion aims for the same kind of growth, which meant taking the "risk" of making her debut via FHM and an upcoming sexy film.
"I'm just trying to be strong and versatile. I'm risking it all, that's how life is -- you have to risk it and go out of your comfort zone, try different things and learn from it," she said.
For her film debut, Concepcion said she will star in the "scandalous" adult-drama film "Rigodon," directed by Erik Matti.
"It has three characters and shows three different points of view on how they regard love, life, lust, marriage and such," she said of the film. "I gave it my all. Let's leave it at that. [It's] very scandalous."
Although she is being launched as an adult film star, Concepcion said she doesn't consider herself a "sex symbol" just yet. She added, however, that she has at least come to terms with having a Cristine Reyes-inspired showbiz career as her occupation for the foreseeable future.
"I wouldn't consider myself a sexy symbol. It actually took a year [of talks]. I had to psyche myself for it; I didn't want to do something I wasn't a hundred percent sure [I wanted to do]," Concepcion said.
* less than a lengthy full-frontal and scorching sex scenes in the best of soft-core tradition will be a major disappointment.
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Copyright Alert System Coming Within Weeks
October 19, 2012 | By Glenn Peoples (@billboardglenn), Nashville
American Internet users can expect to start seeing notifications from their Internet service providers if they trade files on peer-to-peer networks.
A blog post by Jill Lesser, executive director of the Center for Copyright Information, revealed the long-awaited Copyright Alert System (CAS) will begin "in the coming weeks" and provided some details about the partnership with ISPs to deter subscribers from infringement over peer-to-peer networks.
ISPs to Roll Out Copyright Alert Systems This Year, CCI's New Executive Director Says
In the coming weeks, participating ISPs will launch its version of the CAS. Each system allows content owners to send infringement notices to subscribers via the ISP. When infringing activity continues, CAS will send "enhanced alerts" that vary by ISP but range from a requirement that a subscriber review educational material to temporary throttling of the subscriber's Internet speed.
The CCI member companies include the RIAA, the MPAA and five major Internet service providers: Verizon, AT-and-T, Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable.
Consumers and critics may find some comfort in the steps the CCI has taken to ensure fairness. For starters, unlike anti-piracy efforts in other countries, CAS is not a "strikeout" program that will result in termination of an account. In addition, CCI has retained Stroz Friedberg to ensure MarkMonitor's system for identifying alleged infringement is accurate and works properly.
The CAS is the result of a 2011 memorandum of understanding between a group of U.S. Internet service providers, the MPAA and the RIAA that outlined the system for alerting subscribers of their infringing behavior and educating them on alternatives. Lesser was hired as executive director in April. She was previously Deputy Director of Public Policy and Director of the Civic Media Project at the advocacy group People for the American Way.
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M A S Q U E R O T I C A
This Saturday Night in San Francisco • SF Concourse Exhibition Center
635 8th St., San Francisco
Oct 20th, 2012
8pm - 4am
(21+ Show - ID required)
We will have live DJs and several pole dancers and go-go girls on our very own Asian Diva Girls stage.
Details for the event are located here:
http://www.Masquerotica.com
I may even have a few Guest passes left in case any local GFYers feel like attending.
E-mail me offline if you are interested: webmaster AT asiandivagirls DOT com
Here are a few of the girls who will be attending Masquerotica with Asian Diva Girls, as well as some videos from last year, etc:
Masquerotica 10.20.12 Trailer
Kara Nova at Masquerotica with Eric McFadden
Pole acrobat Kara Nova, backed by Eric McFadden and band at Masquerotica in San Francisco
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